Thursday, December 29, 2016

HOME AWAY FROM HOME…

ON THE ROAD TO FLORIDA

It was finally time to leave the frozen tundra and dreary gray sky for the warm gentle breezes and bright sunshine that livens up the landscape of the south. 

We rolled into Florida on Thursday (Dec 22) after three days on the road. (FYI: Actually, from where we are it could be done in two days but over the years we need the extra day. It is just easier on the ole body). At least the motels we eventually stopped at were decent, when we found one.  


We decided to take I-75 down as opposed to the alternative I-95 route because of the possibility of winter storms through the mountains in Virginia at this time of the year. 

EXCITEMENT ON THE BORDER
After eight years of travelling to Florida most encounters at the border go without incident and are pretty much a mundane experience until this one…

We crossed the border in Windsor over the Ambassador Bridge. Traffic was moderate as we pulled up to Customs around 5 pm. Along with the regular questions of citizenship, where and how long we were going for, this particular Customs Officer decided to inquire about my cat. 

This was the first time I had ever been asked for the paperwork on my cat’s vaccination. Not a problem, I always get Fred’s rabies shots before we leave. Then I was asked what the brand of cat food I had with me. Of course, my mind decided to go totally blank at that moment. That prompted the Customs Officer to order us to shut off the car and stay put. We automatically unbuckled our seat belts out of habit, which immediately had the Officer shout at us to “STAY IN THE CAR”.  Flustered at this point I threw up my hands like I was being arrested.

Another Officer came around the car to the passenger side and opened the back door. 
The car of course was jammed packed to the roof with suitcases. Fred was in his carrier in the back wedged in the middle between the front seats. I always pack a ‘food box’ which I keep directly behind me and it was leaning up against the back door. (FYI: The ‘food box’ is filled with various snacks, my kettle for tea, tea bags, sugar, cups, and of course a few tins of cat food and a small baggie filled with some dry cat food). The box nearly fell out when the Officer pulled open the door.

The Officer in the booth kept barking at me to name the brand of cat food I had. I quickly swiveled around in my seat and yanked Fred in his carrier to the front and stretched into the back between the front seats.  I proceeded to dig through the mounds of luggage to locate the bag that I had stuffed with Fred’s extra food. Finally, after rummaging for what seemed like an eternity I retrieved the original bag of dried cat food to show the name to the other Officer who was still refilling through the ‘food box’.  After all that fuss the main concern was if the cat food contained “lamb”, it did not. (He could have said that from the start, Fred only likes fish and chicken – at least this week) By the way, the brand if you are wondering, Purina. Geesh, why could I not remember that! 

ONWARD BOUND
It was going on 9 pm and we decided that it was time to stop for the night in Ohio. The first night we stopped at a Comfort Inn, most accept pets, however this one that we stopped at in Monroe was okay with dogs staying but wouldn’t allow my cat. (Discrimination if you ask me) Apparently, the owner is allergic. We then went back out on the highway and travelled until the next exit, but this Comfort Inn did not allow any pets! At least the clerk directed us to a Best Western down the road. Beautiful room, although it was much more expensive. Maybe because the bed is softer… doesn’t really matter I never sleep well in motels. I might get a couple of hours sleep if I am lucky. So is a soft comfy bed worth the extra cost for me, NO.

The second night we made it to the Florida border but with another five hours to drive we stopped just past the Welcome Center for the night in White Springs. Overall I couldn’t really complain on this trip. The traffic moved fairly well, except through Atlanta. There always seems to be a traffic jam of some sort going on through there. 

By noon the next day it was a balmy 28 C (83 F) when we pulled into the driveway. Good to be home. Over the next couple of days would consist of unpacking and opening up the house. Lots of dead spiders and other strange black dots in the corners to clean up. 

On the 24th the house was sparkling and fully unpacked. Now we  just needed to pick up a few groceries.  Of course, being Christmas Eve day it became a monumental task. Normally I would never set foot in a store the day before Christmas, but we really didn’t have a choice. So, fighting the crowds we managed to get enough supplies to get us through Christmas. 

CHRISTMAS IN THE SOUTH
Christmas day I set out breakfast under the lanai, now that is something I can never do back in Canada, the snow is piled high and the average temperature is below 0.  

By afternoon all the “Christmasy’ stuff was out of the way and more important things like getting my bike out of storage was on my mind. 

Two days have gone by since getting to Florida and I still haven’t even been able to ride my bike, or in the very least gaze upon it. 

My BF really likes to torture me when it comes to getting my bike out, he pretends to be uninterested and gives me that ‘I could care less’ attitude. Deep down inside I know he misses his bike as much as I miss mine. 

After getting the bikes out of storage it was time to get them fired up. I watched as he hooked up the fuel line and battery. I guess I could do that myself, although then he wouldn’t feel needed if I did. 

As he turned the key and pushed the ignition the dreaded sound every biker doesn’t want to hear, click-click-click. The battery was dead. He dragged out the battery charger and plugged her in, I crossed my fingers. It managed to turn over and run for a bit, but once again it sputtered and died. Maybe it just needed a bit more time on the charger… not to be. On closer inspection, it was in dire need of a new battery. 

As to change the battery I suggested that the spark plugs should be replaced. As he pulled them out the rusty tips were an obvious sign. (Almost embarrassing really) Then I noticed that the slow leak in my back tire was a lot worse this year. Can’t put that off any longer. As soon as the stores re-open I will have to also get that taken care of. Well at least I got to see my bike on Christmas day. (And I of course sat on it for awhile)



GETTING SPORTY BLUE BACK ON THE ROAD
Finally boxing day arrived and it was off to the Auto Parts store. The first one we stopped at didn’t have the size I needed. Lucky for me there is practically an Auto Parts store on every street corner around here. After a short jaunt down the road we turned into another Auto Parts store. It must have been meant to be, I snagged the last one on the shelf.  After my wallet was $118 lighter I was rewarded with the delightful roar as my Harley came to life. Now to deal with the back tire. 

But first things first, the next day I had to get my license tag renewed before it expired on the 28th.  After filling air in my back tire, we headed off to get my tags. It was just a short ride into town, but oh what a feeling to be back on two wheels! 

On the 28th we headed over to Cape Coral to Soul Rebel Cycles on the bikes to see about my back tire.  It was a beauty day to go for a ride. As suspected I did need a tire so after ordering a new tire, which should be in by Friday, we decided to head over to the Fort Myers Harley Davidson before going home. I couldn’t resist in buying myself a T-shirt, after all it was a birthday gift to me and I am worth it. 

Shouldn’t be too long now before I can start plotting my riding adventures again!

I can hardly wait….


Saturday, November 5, 2016

Game of 4's

My last entry was a few weeks ago, more of a filler blog that went over what I had been up to since doing my series on Vloggers. I really had not planned to write anything until I was back in Florida and re-united with my motorcycle. But this morning as I was doing my usual ritual of checking my social pages I came across a posting in Facebook from my vlogger friend The Tartan Visor.

Seems ‘The Tartan Visor’ has nominated me to play this Game of 4’s. I have to admit, I had no idea what it was at first. Lucky for me he explained it at the start of his Vlog because doing a Google search for “What is game of 4’s” was useless! Although, I am now knowledgeable about the Game of Thrones and Fallout 4.

Anyway, this game is just about answering 4 questions with 4 answers to each question and then nominate another four people to do the same. I am not so sure how it works with bloggers, but it is very popular with the vlogger community.
What the heck, I will give it a shot.


Oh and before I forget,  here are my nominees to play the Game of 4’s.
Jeff – VRIDETV 
Eric – Indian48   
Dar – Princess Scooterpie  
Sonja – Find me on the road Thanks Sonja for stepping up and playing!

Q1: What is your favorite food?
Well as far as food goes I am not one of those people who ‘love to eat’. I am so fussy when it comes to food it is amazing that I eat anything at all. If I were a vegetarian I would starve to death and as a carnivore I don’t really make a good one because if I think too much that I am eating an animal I can’t swallow another bite. Besides, I have a lot of quirks when it comes to eating, so many that I won’t even get into it, but I am sure you will get the idea …


Steak: I like steak, but here is the catch, it has to be a lean one, like a sirloin never a porterhouse and has to be cooked very well done. Even a hint of pink in it and my throat closes up. And don’t doctor it all up with spices either. A bit of salt and a dash of pepper is plenty of seasoning for me. (I am not a big fan of pepper, but over the years I have seasoned meat with it because other people like it, so it is more from habit than something I like. (But if there is too much pepper, forget it)


Potatoes: I love potatoes, boiled, mashed, baked or fried. Must be the Irish in me. I like them so much I have been known to eat a Potato Sandwich. For those who have never heard of one I will explain. Of course, you would cook the potato first, (although as a kid I loved eating raw potatoes) then mash it or slice it, doesn’t really matter, just as long as you can get it on the bread. Add a glob of butter on the potato before putting it on the bread. Then butter a slice of bread, put them together and yum! 

I have to give an honorable mention to French Fries. Fries with salt and vinegar to be exact. I have been told it is a Canadian thing, but probably has been passed down from Britain. And no, not that cider vinegar that they serve you in the states, has to be white vinegar.  Another thing I do is when I eat a hamburger I put French fries (vinegar included) on it. I have been doing that since I was a kid, way before it became a trend at restaurants. (Let’s just say it started a very, very long time ago) And for the record my hamburger is always plain. It is actually a bonus to like plain hamburgers; when you are at a fast food place, you are guaranteed a fresh cooked burger! 


This is what Scoobi-doo macaroni looks like
Macaroni & Cheese: Homemade Macaroni and Cheese, as opposed to the stuff you get out of a box,  (You know who you are… Kraft Dinner) and made with Velveeta or Cheddar cheese with Elbow macaroni or my new favorite, Scoobi-doo macaroni. (I do confess, I did go on a Kraft dinner binge as a kid but I am an adult now, sort of...)




As close as I could find without having to cook it

Eggs & Potatoes: This is a creation I have made when I don’t know what to eat or I have left overs. I fry up some left-over potatoes then crack an egg over it and scramble it in. If I have some left-over meat like pork or beef (pretty much any kind of meat will work) I will throw that in too.  When I am really adventurous I will melt cheddar cheese over it. 



Q2: Favorite Drink
I probably drink a lot more than I eat. Not that water is my favorite, but I can’t leave the house without a bottle of water, especially if I am on my motorcycle. 


Tea: Tea is my caffeine boost in the morning, I never liked coffee.  And none of those fancy herbal ones either. Has to be Red Rose (which is a black orange pekoe tea).  Milk and sugar please.







Pepsi: I don’t drink as much of it as I used to, probably a good thing. I am down to one a day now, and sometimes I don’t even finish a whole can. Must be an age thing or maybe it is more because I don’t use it as a mix with my alcohol anymore. 



Vodka: Up until a year ago my ‘go to’ alcoholic drink of choice was Smirnoff Vodka and Pepsi, with lots and lots of ice. Never cared for the taste of alcohol so naturally Vodka was the perfect choice.  Maybe I just like Vodka because it is made from potatoes…





Wine: I have replaced my usual afternoon cocktail with wine. I feel so grown up now. Not just any wine though, has to be White Zinfandel mixed with Tonic Water and has to have some ice in it. 






Q3: Places I have been
I have only been a few places, not near as many as I want to. But I do have a bucket list started that I continually add to. Maybe I should get working on it... 

Quebec: Within my own country of Canada, I have only been to one other province. That was when I was a kid and went on a student exchange to Quebec. I can hardly remember most of it now, but I recall I stayed with a very nice family in Laval and they took me to the Laurentian Mountains. In case you are wondering, my French never improved from the experience.


Germany: My BF is from Germany and we visited his hometown of Oberboihingen a few years back. Germany is an awesome place and is rich in history. I fell in love with the architecture and the quaint villages. Everything is so accessible there, either by walking or a train ride. Visiting the wineries was amazing, and so was the wine! 




Italy: While we were in Germany we made a side trip to Italy and stayed for a few days. I loved exploring the quaint villages and I ended up with an obsession of taking pictures of the unique doors on the old buildings. We stayed in Eppan in South Tyrol and I was surprised to learn that most of the community also spoke German. The area where we stayed just happened to be a popular vacation spot for German tourists. Too bad I speak as much German as I do Italian! But my BF is fluent in German and translated, besides as long as I could order a glass of wine.. “Ein Glas Wein bitte” (A glass of wine please) What more did I really need to say.


Florida: Florida as you may know is more of a ‘home away from home’ for me now. The weather is of course my favorite part. I love seeing the Palm Trees and it was in Florida that I really got most of my experience riding a motorcycle. Also, everything just seems so bright and colourful there, especially coming from a wintery Canada where it seems there are more dark and dreary days than sunny ones at that time of the year. 


Q4: Names that I am known by
I actually have more than four names that I have been known by, but the game says only four... 

Sandy: I guess first and foremost the name I am most known by would be ‘Sandy’. I was given that name at birth and it stuck. 

Sandy Beach: When I was in High School I used to get called ‘Sandy Beach’. A friend even made me a T-shirt with that name on it for my birthday. I still have it somewhere, I never throw anything out, the problem is where the hell did I put it!

River: Years ago, like back in 1996 when there was no such thing as Twitter or Facebook, people used IRC (Internet Relay Chat) the one I gravitated to was Microsoft Comic Chat (Who remembers that?) I had a screen name that I went by, ‘River’. I came up with that name because I lived near the Niagara River at the time. I know, so original (sarcasm) Anyway, that name has since disappeared into the cyber wasteland, kind of like comic chat has.

Frozen Canuck: I guess now I am more known by ‘The Frozen Canuck’. At least when it comes to the Internet. (And if I would consider myself known at all) However, my Twitter friend Fernando likes to call me ‘Snowflake’ and it kind of caught on. Okay, that makes five, but 'Snowflake' sounds so cute!

Well that was fun...


Monday, October 3, 2016

What’s up with me...

The summer has been a blur this year. For the most part I worked at my ‘real life’ job and really didn’t have much time for anything else. Funny how that gets in the way of a perfectly good virtual life. I suppose the cash flow part and eating once in awhile is nice, I guess it balances out. So it is no surprise that my writing has suffered a little. Not to mention my motorcycle withdrawals! I did manage to squeeze in a bit of writing though, and it helped me keep my sanity, or what is left of it. Now with fall around the corner I am able to start concentrating more on writing and of course preparing for my upcoming flee to a warmer climate that is more suitable to a frozen bird like myself.

In case you were wondering, that is actually me up there.
I am not really a cartoon bird who rides a 
motorcycle. 


Vlogger Series
If you have been following me, I started my new ‘Interview with a Moto-Vlogger’ series in the month of September. It was fun finding out more about some of my favorite vloggers; VRIDETV , Indian48 , The Tartan Visor and MotordadcleI would like to thank them again for participating in this series. I had a blast putting it together and appreciate them for taking time out of their busy schedules to put up with me.

I plan on making this a regular series, however there will be no set schedule for posts. I think it is a cool series to try and keep it going and judging by the visits, you do too. I would also like to Thank You All for reading it! I will always be on the look out for Moto Vloggers, so contact me if you or know of someone who would like to be in on this series. 


Guest Writer
Recently I was asked to be a guest writer for Biker Girl Bling! I am as passionate about writing as I am about riding, and to get the chance to write about amazing women and their rides, well I am just beside myself at the prospect. I would like to thank Lisa Catarineau, Founder & Director of BikerGirlBling.com for giving me this opportunity to spread my writing wings.

The Biker Girl Bling Blog features women and their customized motorcycles. I will be doing articles featuring custom paint jobs or wraps to bling’d out sparkles. Be sure to check out my first article Cheetah GSXR Girl  on October 11, 2016.

I will be on the look out for women who want to be featured for this, so if you are or know of someone interested please drop me a line!


My Motorcycle Reunion
I will also be reunited with my own motorcycle soon, not soon enough though. I still have a couple of months to go before I see and get to ride my Sporty Blue. 

If you enjoyed reading about my motorcycle adventures, don’t worry, I will certainly be writing about them too over the winter. 

In a nutshell, that has been what has been happening with me. Looking forward to new adventures and sharing them with you!





Cruising Through Life & Enjoying The Ride...

Monday, September 26, 2016

Interview with a Moto-Vlogger: Motordadcle

After a summer of watching talented Moto-Vloggers and admiring them for making such great videos on youTube I reached out to a few to put together this series. Some were kind enough to take the time to let me pick their brains and force them to ‘write’ in order to bring to you an inside glimpse of who they are and why they do what they do.  

So without further ado lets get to know the person behind the video camera....   




Rider Name: Motordadcle
Real Name:  Andrew              
Location:     Toronto Ontario, Canada 





TFC: When did you start riding & why?

Andrew: I started riding around 3 and a half years ago. As to why, I think it was a mixture of a few things. I’ve always wanted to ride motorcycles from the first time I was on one. It was a 125cc dirtbike out in the woods. And it was amazing. I was suddenly 36 years old, with two kids, and hadn’t taken the leap. I guess it was partly an old age thing. Partly because I wanted my son and daughter to grow up around motorcycles, to give them that love as well. The other reason was that at my age, the older people in your family start to pass away. I’d experienced the loss of a few family members to old age and cancer and thought “what am I waiting for?” I took a course, got a bike and a license. Done.

TFC: How did you come by your rider name? 

Andrew: I wanted something that had to do with who I was. Not the brand of bike I was on at the time, not something extreme that I’d out-grow. It’s really the word “motorcycle” with “dad” stuck in the middle. Motor-dad-cle. It’s lame. But it stuck.


Graffiti wall mural behind
 the Toronto Chinese
Archway as you enter
Toronto's China Town East
TFC: What do you ride now? 

Andrew: Right now I am riding a 2009 Yamaha FZ6R in Cadmium Yellow. It’s a 600cc bike classified as a Sport-Touring. I’ve recently stripped the fairings off and converted her to a bad-ass streetfighter. I love this bike. It’s fast as heck and comfortable enough for long rides.


TFC: Does your bike have a name?

Andrew: Yep. Her name is Betty after Betty (the blonde) from Archie Comics. I loved reading Archie comics as a kid.




Outside of Fort York, Toronto
TFC: What made you decide to start Moto-Vlogging?

Andrew: I had started watching a motovlogger named Accidental Broadcast. He’s out in Hawaii and the views and insight into his culture and daily life were really inspiring. Toronto is no Hawaii, but I thought maybe someone out there would find it interesting. 





Full fairing Betty at
Underpass Park, Toronto
TFC: What type of equipment do you use to produce your videos? 

Andrew: I use a helmet mounted GoPro Hero 3+ Silver with a lav mic wired into my helmet. I also have a second camera that I can mount on the bars to give the perspective of myself while riding, that camera is a Sony AS15. I edit on a super old MacBook – the all white, fat one. It’s got enough RAM to run Adobe Premiere Pro, which is my edit software of choice.



TFC: What is the most challenging part of putting together your videos?

Andrew: Time. Subscribers need to realize - and a lot do - that this is a hobby for 99% of moto vloggers. I have a full-time job, a family to support, kids to manage, etc. Typically editing one 5-minute video takes me about 4 hours of work. That is hard to find every week. BUT, the reward of getting comments from people who value the effort and enjoy the content makes it all worthwhile.



Andrew excited about the first ride of 2016
TFC: Any advice for someone wanting to get into Moto-Vlogging?

Andrew: I would say, do your own thing. I see a lot of motovloggers start out and they are basically doing what the big motovloggers are doing. Not copying but mimicking. Find something that excites YOU or something interesting about where YOU live or something that makes YOU unique. That will get you more comments than anything else. Also, don’t care about subscriber numbers. Don’t get me wrong, I love all my subs and value every single one, but I’m not doing this to get to 100K. I’m doing this in the hopes that some people out there get some enjoyment out of my work. If I made you smile, my jobs done.



The arches in front of Hart House,
University of Toronto
TFC: I have a moto-bucket list of places I would love to ride my bike someday. If you could ride your bike anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

Andrew: I’d love to ride in Hawaii with Accidental Broadcast - such a beautiful place to just roam around on a dirt bike. The other place I’d love to go ride is Eastern Canada’s Cabot Trail – again, the scenic nature and winding roads are amazing.





TFC: Any last words or advice for motorcyclists?

Andrew: If you’re just getting your license, take a motorcycle safety course. It’s so good. After that practice a lot. Maybe take an advanced riding course too. The more prepared you are the longer you’ll be alive and able to ride. 

Whatever you want to do in life – go and do it, right now. You have one life, and it’s yours to create and shape. So make it fun. Motorcycling is a community and a lifestyle, it’s the best feeling to be able to ride up to another biker anywhere and just start talking. It’s like you’re bonded just because you’re both on two wheels.




Check Motordadcle out for yourself! Subscribe, Like him, Leave him a comment!
Motordadcle YouTube channel
Motordadcle Swag 




Places to connect with you:
Twitter @motordadcle 
Facebook
Instagram 


**************************************************

YOU THERE...


If you are a Moto-Vlogger and are interested in getting featured on my new series you can find me on Twitter and send a DM to @theFrozenCanuck or you can email TheFrozenCanuck.ca@gmail.com with your youTube channel. I will review your channel and as long as you meet my discriminating values I will contact you. I have to set some standards :)


Until next time.... 





Cruising through Life & Enjoying the Ride...

Monday, September 19, 2016

Interview with a Moto-Vlogger: The Tartan Visor

After a summer of watching talented Moto-Vloggers and admiring them for making such great videos on youTube I reached out to a few to put together this series. Some were kind enough to take the time to let me pick their brains and force them to ‘write’ in order to bring to you an inside glimpse of who they are and why they do what they do.  

So without further ado lets get to know the person behind the video camera....   





Rider Name: Tartan Visor
Real Name:     Jim
Location:       Scotland








TFC: When did you start riding & why?

Jim: I passed my test in Feb 2003 but didn't get my first bike until 2005/2006 but it was just a 125cc for getting to work and even then I only had it for a year. This year (2016) is when I started to take full advantage of it. I've always wanted a bike and I love the freedom you get from it and meeting like minded bikers.

TFC: How did you come by your rider name? 

Jim: I choose it myself when I started moto-vlogging. I'm Scottish so thats where the "Tartan" bit comes from and "Visor" as the viewer is kind of seeing from my perspective.


Nina
TFC: What do you ride now? 

Jim: I have a Kawasaki ZX7R Ninja

TFC: Does your bike have a name?

Jim: Yes! She's called Nina....Nina the Ninja :)



TFC: What made you decide to start Moto-Vlogging?

Jim: I've seen various moto-vloggers and a good few of them have said "if you think that you can do it, then just go out there and try it!" so I did :)


Bike Meet
TFC: What type of equipment do you use to produce your videos? 

Jim: I now use 2 cameras for capture. My main cam is the original Drift HD720 (didn't want to spend to much if I didn't like it, so picked it up second hand). The other cam is a little cheap one called kitvision splash action camera. For editing I use a Toshiba laptop (it's a few years old) and I've just started using Sony Vegas Pro 13, before that I used Power Director 11

TFC: What is the most challenging part of putting together your videos?

Jim: I've got a bad habit of making my vlogs long! So cutting out a lot of footage while still making sure the vlog makes sense is probably the hardest thing lol


TFC: Any advice for someone wanting to get into Moto-Vlogging?

Jim: Just the same that got me into it! If you think you can do it and want to try it then go out there and do it! You don't need to have the latest all singing all dancing equipment to do it either! Just get the basics and go for it! If you need help there's plenty of vloggers that will be willing to help you on your way..........like me! Just ask :)


TFC: I have a moto-bucket list of places I would love to ride my bike someday. If you could ride your bike anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

Jim: I would have to say Canada. I love the place!  I've been there many times while I was serving in the Army, so I got to see a good bit of it. The last time I was there was for just over a month to do various climbs in the Canadian Rockies, so jumping on a Harley Road King and traveling through Banff, Jasper and Canmore would be mind idea of pure heaven!

TFC: Any last words or advice for motorcyclists?

Jim: Nothing I can say that most bikers don't already know, so I'll just leave it with "Ride Safe!"

Check The Tartan Visor out for yourself! Subscribe, Like em, Leave him a comment!
The Tartan Visor youTube channel 

Places to connect with you:
Twitter @TheTartanVisor 
Facebook
The Tartan Visor’s Facebook Like Page 






********************************************************************


YOU THERE...
If you are a Moto-Vlogger and are interested in getting featured on my new series you can find me on Twitter and send a DM to @theFrozenCanuck or you can email TheFrozenCanuck.ca@gmail.com with your youTube channel. I will review your channel and as long as you meet my discriminating values I will contact you. I have to set some standards :)



Until next time.... 



Cruising through Life & Enjoying the Ride...

Monday, September 12, 2016

Interview with a Moto-Vlogger: Indian48

After a summer of watching talented Moto-Vloggers and admiring them for making such great videos on youTube I reached out to a few to put together this series. Some were kind enough to take the time to let me pick their brains and force them to ‘write’ in order to bring to you an inside glimpse of who they are and why they do what they do.  

So without further ado lets get to know the person behind the video camera....   



Rider Name: Indian48 (But let’s call him Hawkeye :) 

Real Name:  Eric       
     
Location:  Detroit, Michigan (Previously: Scottsdale Arizona)






View from behind the handlebars of the
Indian Chief Vintage,
headed North in Arizona to Winslow
TFC: When did you start riding & why?

Eric: First, I’ll say it’s an honor just to be asked these questions, because frankly, I’m a newbie.  I started out doing this because I thought it would be fun for people to see someone with 0 long-distance experience try to go around 48 states and film it. 

 Somewhere along the way, I actually got some experience under my belt, and here I am!  So, I hope this doesn’t come across as an experienced guy talking to newer folks – really it’s a newer guy who still has a lot to learn, passing along what I can tell you so far.  So here goes.

I got my first bike, a Honda CBR600 F4i, when I was 21.  I always wanted a motorcycle, and that was the first time in my life where I had a job and I could afford one!  It was one of my first post-college purchases.  I’d just graduated from Michigan State, and instead of using my salary from my first job to pay off debt or to get an apartment, I moved right back in with my parents and bought a bike.  Looking back, I suppose you could say I had some pretty patient parents.  I liked the CBR, and it really helped me to learn more about motorcycling to practice on that bike, but I found that I didn’t have a lot of friends to ride with, and sport bikes tend to have a way of making you want to go try dumb things…so when I eventually sold it, I was actually happy to watch it go, while I still had all of my limbs in the right places.

TFC: How did you come by your rider name? 

Eric: I don’t know if I really have a rider name – just a name for my website.  I went with “Indian48” because I really love the Indian motorcycle I ended up getting, and I decided to go to all 48 states in the continental U.S. on it.  So, it’s not the most creative name.  It just explains what I did.  

If I did have a rider name, I think it would be something really cool like Hawkeye or Gryphon or something.  My friend’s young son thought I looked like Hawkeye from the Avengers movies, and that was probably the best compliment I’ve ever received.  So, if everyone wants to start calling me Hawkeye I’m totally good with that.  But otherwise I just go by “Eric,” or “that guy with all the tassels on his bike.” 


Beautiful day in Arizona –
one of my favorite places to ride.
This one is just South of Winslow.
TFC: What do you ride now?

Eric: I ride a red 2014 Indian Chief Vintage, loaded up with every leather bag and set of tassels you can buy for it, with the exception of the tassels that get in the way when you’re trying to open the saddle bags.  It’s by far the favorite of all bikes I’ve owned.  

My first cruiser was a Harley 100th anniversary Fat Boy.  I loved that bike too, but it didn’t have bags, and the previous owner had lowered it, so it would bottom out if I had a passenger and hit a manhole cover or a bump.  After that I had a Harley Road Glide.  That bike was nice, but at the time I still didn’t feel experienced enough to go long distances, and so I didn’t really get the most out of it or appreciate it.  It felt too heavy to use to just cruise around town on my own without going big distances, and so I sold that one.

TFC: Does your bike have a name?

Eric: A couple of times I’ve referred to her as “Falcor,” like that dragon dog from the Never Ending Story movie, but I really don’t call it that.  After going across most of Montana one day I did get a little loopy and start patting her on the tank as I rode, letting “her” know she was doing great and having a small conversation with her.  So, though Falcor didn’t stick, the anthropomorphism did, and she’s now taken on a nameless female persona.  

On a recent trip across New Mexico, an inebriated man at a gas station insisted for about 10 minutes that I was like Roy Rogers and needed to call her “Trigger,” but that didn’t stick.  When I was a kid, I had one of those plastic horses mounted to a metal frame with springs, and it’s name was Trigger.  I don’t think you’re supposed to have two Triggers in one lifetime, so that wouldn’t work.


The Monument to the Four Corners
riders in Madawaska, Maine,
the far Northeast corner of the U.S.
TFC: What made you decide to start Moto-Vlogging?

Eric: It actually was kind of an accident.  I didn’t know anything about “vlogging” or “YouTubers” when I got started.  My plan was actually to make more of a documentary-style film when I began my 48 state, 4-corner trip.  I had been in touch with a professional documentarian about that, and I was geared up to create that kind of a film.  I just didn’t have a “story.”  After the first trip was done, and the 48 states and 4 corners were behind me, I started to label the footage and just post short clips to share the beautiful scenery.  

That’s when I got interested in other YouTubers like Casey Neistat.  I started watching Casey’s VLOG and I thought: That’s what I need to be doing – not creating one big story – but creating a ton of small stories to share about my riding experiences.  Once I understood that there was a genre like that that “fit” the types of stories and footage I had collected, I started publishing them in that way.  I’ve had a blast with it and that’s what I’m still doing.  I really enjoy the idea of releasing a lot of small, single-serving films, instead of one long one.  I also think the world has much more of an appetite for that now than they do for long-form documentaries with one big message. 


Wide open road in Montana
TFC: What type of equipment do you use to produce your videos? 

Eric: I use a Canon 80D DSLR with a Rode shotgun mic and a 10-18mm Canon lens to shoot most of my footage while off the bike.  That setup is really incredible.  I started with a Canon T5i and quickly realized how bad it was at image stabilization and auto-focus for movies.  That was a mistake to buy.  I’d been taking advice from YouTubers who had a fixed set and never moved while filming.  

The T5i is great for that, but as soon as you’re moving around, it loses any ability to perform as an auto-focusing video camera.  I use a GoPro Hero 4 Silver for all of my on-motorcycle footage.  Sometimes it’s mounted onto the front of my helmet (I rigged it up using a ton of tape), and sometimes I just have it in my hand and shoot freely, just moving it around with my arm.  

I have a cheap lapel mic mounted with double-sided mounting tape to the inside of my helmet so I can talk when I ride, but as you’ll see in my movies, I usually don’t do that.  I narrate a story afterward, or while I’m stopped, and then I use that audio overtop of the footage from the road.  That style seems to fit me best.  I also recently picked up a DJI Phantom 4 drone which is the most fun thing I’ve ever purchased as an adult.  That can add some real context to the movies, but it also can be dangerous and illegal, so I’m careful with it.



The Newbugh-Beacon Bridge
 spanning the Hudson river
in New York
TFC: What is the most challenging part of putting together your videos?

Eric: For me it’s thinking of a compelling story that will draw people in, and not just posting a bunch of footage.  I think it’s great that some people want to just sit and watch beautiful scenery!  But, I also want to capture people who want to hear about what happened during the trip.  To do that best, I really need to be thinking as I ride about what I should be narrating, what the “story” is behind the day, and how that will all come together in the end. 

 Unfortunately, I’m just brand new to that and only starting to do it at a level I think will interest viewers.  So most of my early films were just riding with music behind me, and my later stuff has been me doing narration way after the end of the ride, trying to make a story out of something that happened a month ago.


“Standin’ on the Corner”
monument in
Winslow, Arizona
TFC: Any advice for someone wanting to get into Moto-Vlogging?

Eric: Sure!  Here’s a bulleted list:

·         First, get really comfortable riding.  Practice.  Get into a parking lot and do fast-stops.  Go through cones or coke cans you set up.  Ride miles on open roads.  Get to be a motorcyclist – know how to ride and operate within your comfort zone.  I just saw a new moto-vlogger with a brand new bike, go out and dump his bike on its side on his first motovlog ride.  He should take a few years to ride and get comfortable before he starts worrying about filming himself.  I had been a rider for over 16 years before I started trying to film it.

·         Get really good at editing.  To me (after having a good story), editing makes 99% of the difference between something viewable and something people click away from.  Editing can make poor footage work, and it can make great footage even better.

·         Make interesting stuff.  If you get bored watching your own stuff, someone else will get REALLY bored.  Leave them wanting more, not less.  If you watch masters at this like Casey Neistat, they completely understand how short people’s attention spans are, and they’ll flip to a new scene, segment, or topic every 8 seconds or so, at most.  Cut, cut, cut.  Leave only the most interesting stuff.  I spend a lot of time cutting out even the shortest pauses as I speak, so the videos don’t cause people to lose interest.

·         Test your equipment a lot before you use it.  Once you’re out there on the road, it really compromises your safety if you have to fuss with your equipment at all.  You need your stuff to be working and accessible.  If it’s not, get off the bike, get it working right, then start up again.  No fussing with the camera on the road.

·         Don’t worry about what anyone will think of your art.  Just create your stuff!  Enjoy that creative process!  If you get some bad comment, delete it and block the person.  This should be about creating for the sake of creation.  Don’t do something to get attention.  Do something because you loved creating it and you’re proud of it.  Then, if attention follows, great!  If it doesn’t…fine.  Make more stuff.  The fun in this is the journey (literally) on your motorcycle, and the art of creating these neat little films.


Riding up the coast on the Indian Chief Vintage,
Just after crossing the Golden Gate Bridge
in San Francisco, CA
TFC: I have a moto-bucket list of places I would love to ride my bike someday. If you could ride your bike anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

Eric: I’m kind of strange in a couple of ways. One, I don’t have much of a “bucket list.”  If I get interested enough in something, I just find a way to do it as fast as possible.  So, if I started to get that kind of interest in a place to ride, I’d try to get there within a few months.  It would be neat to head up through Canada and into Alaska in the summer.  I’d enjoy that trip next.

Two, I’ve traveled to many countries, and I LOVE motorcycling and living in the USA to the extent I don’t have a lot of curiosity to travel overseas.  I could just ride up and down the Pacific Coast Highway all the way up through Oregon and Washington, and through Montana, Arizona, Colorado, Utah --- I’d be happy doing that for good.  There’s so much here in the U.S.  Someday if I had the chance I suppose I’d enjoy a trip around the coast of Australia, or a trip through some parts of Europe.

TFC: Any last words or advice for motorcyclists?

Eric: I’m new to this and still learning, and I hope I never lose that mindset.  I think it’s important that we all keep perspective and maintain that little bit of fear that keeps us from doing anything dumb.  Unfortunately, the stats show that this goes away and for a little while riders get overconfident, and get into accidents because of that.  So I’d say, read the Proficient Motorcycling book by David L. Hough, then read it again and again.  Never do anything that’s out of your comfort zone. 

Don’t ride with others who do things you don’t think are safe.  If that happens, don’t be scared to be the guy who just lets them move on ahead.  You can meet up with them at the hotel.  Also, follow your gut.  Sometimes you’ll get a feeling that a certain ride just isn’t right.  

I remember I was going to take a trip up to Prescott from here in Phoenix one time, and I was all packed up to do it.  Something had me thinking, this trip does not feel right, and so I just didn’t go.  I wish I could tell you some incredible story like, because I didn’t go, I avoided a head-on collision with a truck.  But the thing is, I didn’t go, and so I have no clue of whether or not I avoided anything.  I just think that safety is what’s most important, and so, you should follow your instincts, practice a lot, ride within your comfort zone, and (all the things you’ve heard before).  That stuff is real.  Every once in a while, take a look at a YouTube video of people’s body parts all over the highway to keep you humble.


Check Indian48 out for yourself! 
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YOU THERE...
If you are a Moto-Vlogger and are interested in getting featured on my new series you can find me on Twitter and send a DM to @theFrozenCanuck or you can email TheFrozenCanuck.ca@gmail.com with your youTube channel. I will review your channel and as long as you meet my discriminating values I will contact you. I have to set some standards :)




Cruising through Life & Enjoying the Ride...